Policies receive second reading next month

MABTON – There are a number of policy changes and new policies that have been recommended by the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) that are under review by the Mabton School Board.

The school board last month received copies of the policies and procedures. Last week, the board chose to forward them for a second reading and approval at its November meeting.

Among the new policies to be approved is an academic acceleration policy, and interviews and interrogations of students policy.

The academic acceleration policy spurs support of dual-credit opportunities for students. It gives incentive to schools that provide advanced learning opportunities to students meeting or exceeding state academic standards.

For interviews and interrogations of students on school premises, the superintendent will establish protocols. The protocols will address child abuse and neglect investigations, criminal investigations and health department investigations, according to the policy.

One revised policy is the equivalency credit for career and technical education. An AP computer science course, under the revision, will be credited as a math or science course under the revision.

The highly capable program policy was also revised by WSSDA. Highly capable programs are now a part of basic education, therefore receiving basic education funding. Highly capable programs must now be extended to grades K-12, whereas services were optional and districts could determine at which grade levels highly capable programs were offered before the revision.

The Mabton School Board by a 3-0 vote approved the first reading of the policies and will consider each of the policies during its consent agenda for adoption at the November meeting.